Refrigerating system



Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. LITLE, J'R., OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM.

Divided and this application filed November 4, 1927. Serial No. 231,161.

This invention relates to the healing or stopping of leaks in refrigerant circulatory systems in which volatile refrigerants are used, and is a division of my application for Letters Patent of the United States on improvements in refrigerating systems filed August 30, 1926, Serial No. 132,657.

It is well known among the manufacturers and users of mechanical refrigerating 1 systems ultilizing the volatile refrigerants that one of the chief sources of inefficiency and trouble is the leakage of refrigerant from the circulatory system of the machine through openings in the circulatory system which are usually so small that it is impossible to repair them by mechanical means.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby such small leaks may be healed and stopped by the introduction of a healing element into the refrigerant circulatory system, said healing element consisting of any of the natural or synthetic gums.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists in the employment and use of certain materials as set forth in the following specification, and claimed in the claims.

The conventional refrigerating system comprises an expansion chamber in which liquid refrigerant is expanded and gasified, a compressor which compresses the gasified refrigerant, and a condenser which cools it, all connected in one circulatory system.

My invention consists in the introduction into the refrigerant circulatory system in solution any one of the natural or synthetic gums such as, for instance, bakelite or pyroxyline.

The nature of the solvent in which the non-leak substance is introduced into the systom while the refrigerant is contained therein will, of course, depend somewhat upon the refrigerant being used, and should have a freezing point lower than the lowest temperature obtained in the system. I prefer in most cases to use alcohol although the refrigerant itself may in some cases be relied upon to properly distribute the non-leak substance.

It may in many instances be found desirable to circulate the non-leak substance through the system before the refrigerant is introduced therein, and likewise it may in many cases be advisable to remove all refrigerant from the system and then circulate the non-leak substance therethrough.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the present invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

\VhatI claim is:

1. The process of stopping leaks in a refrigerant circulatory system which comprises circulating through said system during the operation thereof a gum dissolved in a liquid. having a lower freezing point than the lowest temperature obtained in said sys tom.

2. The process of healing or stopping leaks in refrigerant circulatory systems which consists in introducing into said systems a normally solid material dissolved in a liquid having a freezing point lower than 75 the lowest temperature normally present in said system.

THOMAS J. LITLE, JR. 

